Garment press



Jap. 26, 1932. F. w. LINDEMANN 1,842,415

- GARMENT PRESS FilBd Feb. l5, 1928 4 Shee'iS-Shee'b l Jan. 26, 1932. F.w. LINDEMANN 1,842,415

` GARMENT PRESS Filed Feb. 13. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arran/verdi Jan.26, 1932. F. w. LINDEMANN GARMENT PRES S Filed Feb. 15, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 5 M75/'gewaar' im@ 269 E93. F. w. UNUMANN GARMENT PRES SFiled Feb. 13, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .van

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, ffm/@M2214 /efofc/fl/l/l/Nofm/vn/ l JM; @U4 (HJW FREJERCK W.LINDEMANN, OF SL. FAUJL, MIIINNESOTA, ASSlG-FXF, '1D0 THE UNFFRESSUMFAN'S', UTCORFUFJATED, 0F MNNEAFOFIS, MXNNFTA, .el CORFORTFN @FGdF/MFN@ FRESH .application tiled February 13, 19%.

'llhis invention relates to improvements in garment pressing machinesand has as a general object to improve the device disclosed in my priorPatent Number 1,562,837 of Novem her 211th, 1925 Other objects are toprovide fluid operable Y means for operating a press respectively toadvance the head to and hold it in pressing position, and to release thehead and retract 19 it; to provide a latching mechanism adapted toautomatically secure the head in retracted position, to prevent advanceoit the head by the fluid operalole means unless the operatorls handsareso placed that they cannot be inl5 jured by the advancing head; toprovide a compact arrangement of the head operating mechanism includingthe iiuid-operable portions; to provide a control means such that twomachines can be operated in tandem each machine having a duid-operablemeans respectively -tor advancing and retracting the presser headincluding tvvo valves tor admitting fluid to operate the retractingmeans along with fluid line connections between the valves such that oneof the valves of one mam chine is operahle to admit fluid to causeretraction of the head of the other machine9 and such that theretraction ot the head oit each machine can be obtained by the operationol" 30 the other valve. rllhus an operator standing at one machine canrelease and cause the retraction of ahead ot a distant machine and atthe same time can control in the same manner the machine at which he is:stationed.

Features of the invention include the broad idea ot applyingHuid-operable means tor operating a machine of the type disclosed; thebroad idea of using latching means in the manner disclosed; the detailsof construction including combinations and sub-combinations ot theparts; the arrangement t'orconnecting machines in tandem lso that anoperator stationed at one machine can control release andretraction ofthe head ot the other; and the constructionV and arrangement `of thevalves for obtaining the results set forth.

Advantages ot the invention Will he pointed out in the description ofthe drawings Ferial No. ilti'dL forming apart of this application, andin said drawings Figure 1 is a partial transverse vertical sectionshowing the position ot the elements during the pressing operation;

Figure 2 is a vieW similar to Figure 1 lout showing the position of theparts during the initial retractive movement of the head;

Figure 3 is a vievv similar to Figures 1 and 2 but looking in theopposite directiong and illustrating the position oit the parts 'whenthe head is fully retracted7 and'shovving' hovv the head is latched inretracted position;

Figure l is a rear vievv ot a portion ot the machine illustrating; thecompact arrange-- ment or the head operating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view; i

Figure 6 is a plan view ot the tahle show ing the positions oit' thevalve mechanisms and their relation to one another;

vFigure l is a bottom plan vievv correspondd ing to Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical section of the Ivalve tor controlling retractionol the head, on lines 8-8 ot Figures 6 and l;

Figure 9 is a vertical section ot the valve for controlling advancementol the head, on lines 9 9 of Figures 6 and 7 Figure 10 is a verticalsection through portions oit all valvesF on line 10-10 of Figure 6lookingr toward the table;

' Figure 11 is a plan view on line 11-11 ol Figure 10 illustrating thepacking Washer; and

Figure 12 is a top plan View showing a tan dem relation and connectionof machines construct/ed in accordance With the principles of thisinvention.

The machine comprises a pair of spaced frames 1 each having a rearwardupstanding extension 2, said extensions spaced apart to receivetherebetween substantially all of the head operating mechanism, andmaking for compactness, see Figure 4. Mounted upon the frames is a table5 which is of greater length than the distance between the frame membersand the arms 2. Upon this table is mounted a buck 6. A rockable element10 is pivotally mounted between and upon the arms 2 y means ot a rod 11.rlhe element 10 thus has the general form of a lever intermediatelypivoted, and on one side of its pivot has a presser head 12, and on theother side a rotatably mounted flywheel 13 of sufficient weight tocounter-balance the head 12. The wheel is composed of two spaceddisklike elements mounted upon a common support or shaft 14 to move inunison. This shaftis held at opposite ends in spaced arms 15 of theelement 10. A connection for limiting flywheel rotation, in thisinstance, comprises a pivoted link 16 having one end pivoted as at 17 tothe flywheel between the disks, see Figure 4. The opposite end of thelink is pivoted to a bar or rod 18 supported at opposite ends by andbetween the arms 2 or, as shown, by extensions 19 of these arms. Asshown in Figure 1, the arrangement of the pivoted link is such that itspivotal points, and the rotative aXis of the flywheel are substantiallyaligned during the pressing operation and w en thus aligned function tolock the head in pressing position. The arrangement thus far describedis substantially similar to that disclosed in my Patent, Number1,562,837 of November 24, 1925, and, therefore, a press is providedhaving a pressing head mounted for movement to and from pressingposition, along with means for locking the head in pressing position.rIhis means includes the flywheel and means connected therewith wherebywhen the wheel is set in motion the same will thereafter expend itskinetic energy in assisting to complete the pressing movement of thehead, and when operated inreverse direction will retract the head. Inthe patent above referred to, the device is manually operable by raisingor lowering the head.

One of the features of the present invention is the automatic operationof the device by means, for example, of compressed air. ln this instancethere are separately controllable fluid-operable elements, respectivelyfor advancing and retracting the head. The details of construction areclaimed. However, it will be understood that the invention is consideredbroader than such details, although the machine as illustratedrepresents the commercial form at present found most satisfactory.

For the purpose of operatingthe mechanism to advance the head, a pistoncylinder 20 is pivotally mounted by one end upon the rod 1 8, andtherefore is pivotally mounted co-axially with the lower pivotal pointof the link -16. The cylinder lies between the arms 2 and extendsgenerally in an upward direction. The piston of the cylinder ispivotally connected by a rod 21 to the rear portion of the rocker 10, asat 22. Figure 1 shows the piston in the position it assumes during thepressing operation. The position which it assumes when the head is fullyraised or retracted is illustrated in Figure 3, and it will beunderstood that upon admission of air when thus positioned, the rearportion of the rocker 10 will act to rotate the flywheel in direction ofthe arrow about the pivotal point of the link 16 with the flywheel ascenter. A4s the result of this action, the flywheelwill move to theposition shown in Figure 1 in which the head is forcibly held and lockedin pressing position because of the substantially aligned relation ofthe pivotal points 14, 17 and 18.

ln order to reverse the motion of the flywheel a stop 24 is providedthereon, and when the wheel is at that limit position shown in Figure 1,this stop is disposed for engagement with oris engaged with the arm 25of a bellcrank lever, the other arm 26 of which is connected by a pistonrod 27 with a piston 28 slidable in the cylinder 29. The cylinder ispivoted at 30 beneath the table 5. The element 29 may be referred to asa release cylinder, and when air is forced thereinto the wheel 13 isgiven an initial movement substantially illustrated in Figure 2 to causethe flywheel to move in reverse direction to that limit position shownin Figure 3. lt will be noted that the bellcrank lever is pivoted to therod 11 and therefore concentrically with the pivot of the head or rockerarm 10.

A cushion stop 30a is carried by the presser arm and is arranged to beengaged by corresponding stops 31-32 carried by the flywheel. rFhesestops merely act to yieldably limit rotation of the flywheel in oppositedirections.

Means for locking or latching the pressing mechanism with the head infully retracted position is provided. This is a feature of the inventionwhich prevents advance of the head unless both hands of the operator arein such a position that there is no possibility of injury due toaccidental insertion between the buck and the head.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a rod 35 is pivoted as at 36, to the reararm of the rockable presser head frame. Slidably adjustable on this rodis a stop 37 held in adjusted position by a set screw 38. The stop isengageable with a corresponding abutment or stop 39 of the frame, andwhen the stops are engaged as shown in Figure 3, the head cannot belowered. In order to release the stop 37, a latch 40 is pivoted as at 41to the frame. The latch has a forward extension having an opening 42therein and, the arrangement is such that, when the stops are engaged asshown in Figure 3, the rod engages what Imay be considered the rear side45 of the opening while at the opposite side play is provided so thatthe rod may rock about its pivot in direction of the arrows A. The latchoccupies the position shown in Figure 3 except when operated by thebutton 46 for-ming part of a bellcrank lever pivoted at 47 at theoutreeafiia er edge of the table and adjacent but below the buck 6. Unearm of this lever is adapted t0 be engaged by the hand and depressed,and the other arm has pivoted thereto as at 48, a connecting rod 49pivoted as at 50 to the latch. When the lever or button 46 is depressedthe latch moves the rod in direction of the full line arrow A to releasethe j latch. A suitable spring, not shown, tends always to return thelatch mechanism to the position shown in Figure 3. After release of thestop 37, and as the head is lowered, the rod is raised. When the headrecedes and the rod moves in the opposite direction the elongatedopening 42 permits the rod tov ing position.

This latch mechanism in combination with the air control is a feature ofthis' invention which provides the features before mentioned. The aircontrol valves are mounted upon the forward edge of the table as bestshown in Figures 6 and 7 and the arrangement is such that the aircontrol and latch device must be substantially simultaneously operated,one by each hand. Tn this way both hands will be occupied with thecontrol and therefore' will not bevpositioned for injury by the presserhead.

The air supply, and control means, including the supply tank and valvesfor respectively controlling the air to respective cylinders arefeatures of the invention. This mechanism is a feature of the lnventlon.This air control means is mounted upon the table- 5,'in this instance atthe front edge adjacent but forwardly of the buck but at a leveltherebelow. The tab-le 5 is provided with horizontal extensions 50, seeFigure 6, between which are pivoted a pair of arms respectively 5152both of which are for controlling ad-` a valve to admit air to thecylinder 29 of the other machine tov release and cause the head to rise.levers and corresponding valves are provided in alll machines inanticipation of this tandem connection. However, it will be further un-It will be understood that the two ggg derstood that onlyonevalve-control lever is necessary to admit air to the cylinder 29.

Fach of these release-cylinder control levers is provided with a button53 arranged as best shown in Figure 9, and the upward movement of thisbutton is limited by a stop screw 54. For convenience, the buttons areconsidered as part of the levers, and in some of the igures are giventhe same reference letters as the levers. The valve mechanisms operatedby the levers are identical, and the description of one will thereforeanswer for the other. Referring to Figure 9 which is a section on lines9-9 of Figures 6 and 7, the lever is pivoted-as at 55 between the arms50, and rests against the upper end of a valve stem 56, the lower end ofwhich engages a valve 57 to depress it against the action of the spring58. The stem 56 loosely traverses a passage 59, which communicates witha cross passage 60 leading to pipe 61, the outer end of which pipe 61,is branched as at 62-63, see Figures 6 and 7. One of the branches 63 isconnected with a release pipe 64 of the other machine, (when themachines are used in tandem, see Figure 12) by a pipe 65. One of thesepipes is designated 65, and the other 65a. When the machines are notused in tandem, branch 63 is suitably closed by a cap 65h, indicatedindotte-d lines in Figure 6. The connection between the other branch 62of the pipe 61 and therelease cylinder` 29 is made by means of aflexible connection 67. Moreover, when the machines are not used intandem pipe 64 is also capped as indicated at 68, see Figure 6. Tn thislatter case, only one release valve-control lever 51 is used. Theoperation of the machines when in tandem will be described along withthe description of the valve operation of a single machine.

The valve for controlling air to the cylinder 20 is best shown in Figure10. The valve stem is indicated at and a valve-cap at 71.

Tn this instance the upper end of the valve 4 stem 7 O engages the cap71, which has exhaust ports 72, see also Figurey 8. Referring to Figures6 and 8, a U-shaped framelike lever 73 having a thumb piece 74, ispivoted at 75 at the outer side of the arms 50.4 The' lever extendsbeneath the table, and the thumb piece is arranged at the edge of thetable. This lever has a lateral extension 76 engageable with the valvecap 71 to depress the cap and stem to open valve78, as best shown inFigures 8 and 10. The valve 78 opens against the action of the spring77. The stem 70 loosely traverses the passage 79 which passagecommunicates with a passage 80, see Figure 8. This passage 80 leads intoa pipe 81 which is flexibly connected by means of the pipe or'hose 82with cylinder 20.

The valve cap 71 is for the purpose of peri mitting escape of air fromthe cylinder due ythe result of the rising motion of the head.

lto the downward motion of the piston as Referring to Figure 8, it willbe seen that air forced through pipe 81 by the piston of the cylinder20, will flow through passages 80-7 9 to escape through openings 72.Vhen the lever 73 is depressed to operate the valve 78, the openings 72are closed, so that the piston of cylinder 2O is submitted to fullpressure.

Air is supplied to all three valves by what may be termed a manifold,see Figures 8, 9 and 10. This manifold comprises in parta block 90suitably formed to support the valve operating springs 58 and 77 and tosupply passages for the conduction of fluid to all of the valves. Thisblock 90 is suitably detach ably connected to the valve casing 97 and awasher 96 is interposed between these elements and is supplied withopenings 98 for establishing communication rbetween the chambers of themanifold and the valves 57 78 and passages controlled thereby. Themanifold also has a bore 91 having a screen thereacross as a Iilter. Ascreen is held in place by`a block 93 having a nipple 94, connected by asupply line 95 with an air supply tank 96. The nipple 94 communicatesthrough the screen with the passage 91 of the manifold. .lt will beevident that fluid supplied through the pipe 94 will be distributed toall the valves.

The relief for the cylinder 29 is obtained by a small opening 99, seeFigure 2, so arranged as to permit exhaust of air only after theflywheel 13 has been kicked to release position. A certain amount ofleakage is also 'provided at 100, (see Figures 9 and 10) around thestems 56. 1t will be understood, however, that when the air is admittedto operate the release-cylinder, the leakage is not suicient to preventproper action to kick the wheel to release position.

Vith the machines arranged in tandem, as shown in Figure 12, let it besupposed that the machine at the left of the figure has its head inpressing position. Let it further be supposed that the operator isarranging an article upon the buck of the machine at the right of thefigure. After the article is arranged, buttons 74 and 46 are depressed,and the head is lowered to pressing position. Tf While the operator isstanding at the right hand machine it becomes necessary to release thepressing head of the machine at the left, this can be done by depressingbutton 52 of the right hand machine, whereby air is admitted throughpipes 64, 65, 63, 62, 67 to release cylinder 29, and thev presser headwill be raised. On the other hand, if the 0perator is standing at themachine on the left of the ligure and wishes to raise the head ofthemachine at the right, button 52 is depressed and air is admitted foroperating the cylinder 29, through pipes 64, a, 63, 62 and 67.

It will be understood from previous explanation that when only a singlemachine is recaen;

used the pipes 63-64 are capped and then lever 51 only is used, toobtain operation of the cylinder 29.

ln the operation the parts are initially disposed substantially as shownin Figure 3 with the head locked, by the latching mechanism in its upperposition. The article to be pressed is placed upon the buck andrespective thumbs are engaged with buttons 46-7 4 and both are depressedsubstantially simultaneously resulting in release of the latchmechanism, and admission of air to the cylinder 20. By this means theflywheel is moved from the position shows in Figure 3 to that shown inFigure 1, thus disposing the projection 24 in position to be engaged byarm 25. latch 38 will lie above its companion abutment 39. However,inasmuch as the rod 35 can swing about its pivot 36 in direction of thefull line arrow A, the latching engagement will be automatically againmade when the head again reaches the position shown in Figure 3.

.Vith the machine in pressing position shown in Figure 1 and after theproper interval, lever 51, for example, is depressed and air is admittedto the cylinder 29. The result is substantially shown in Figure 2 whichshows that the flywheel has received a kick to give it sufficientmomentum to carry to the position shown in Figure 3. As the piston 28travels outwardly the air in the cylinder 29 .escapes through theopening 99 and also through the bore 100.

The arrangement whereby the momentum of the flywheel is taken advantageof to o erate the head makes the application of fluidoperable means forthis purpose particularly economical. This because the air or fluid isonly used momentarily. That this is so is evident from the fact that amere initial kick only is necessary for supplying suliicient momentum tothe wheel for either advancing the head to pressing position, orretracting the same from that position. i

Another advantage is the compact arrangement of the head operatingmechanism including the air controlled means. Another advantage is foundin the mechanical latching mechanism which prevents fluid operation ofthe head when the hands of the operator are positioned to be injured bypressure cooperation between the head and the buck.

I claim as my invention:

1. A press including a frame and having an intermediately pivotedelement, having on one side of its'pivot a presser head, and on theother a ily wheel, a link connecting an off-center portion of theflywheel with the frame for limiting flywheel rotation, fluidoperablemeans for moving the pivoted elcment to give an initial impulse to thewheel in one direction for advancing the head, separate fluid-operablemeans arranged for rotating ln this position of the head, the

Lemma the Wheel in opposite direction to vcause retraction of the head,and latch means automatically operable to prevent advancement of thehead by one of the fluid-operable means.

2. A. garment press including a frame, a pressing head mounted on theframe for movement to and from pressing position, a flywheel upon thehead, means connecting an off-center portion of the flywheel to theframe to limit, as Well as obtain its rotation by head movement,fluid-operable means for obtaining movement of the flywheel in onedirection to eect a pressing operation, and separate Huid-operable meansfor obtaining movement of the flywheel in an opposite direction toretract the pressing head, valves separately controlling eachHuid-operable means,-latch means for holding the head in retractedposition and acting to prevent operation of the first mentionedfluid-operable means, and means for controlling the` latch means torelease the head.

3. A garment press comprising a leverhaving a head on one arm and aflywheel on the other arm, and means connecting an 0H"- center part ofsaid flywheel with a stationary part of the press. Huid-operable meansconnecting with the arm of the press to give the flywheel an initiallimpulse for advancing the head. and fluid-operable means separatelyoperable and engageable with the dyvvheel after the head hasreachedpressing position, and adapted to give initial impulse to theflywheel to retract the head..

4. A -Oress having a frame, and a lever intermediately pivoted thereon,said lever havina' on one side of its pivot a pressing head, and on theother a flywheel, a link connecting an off-center portion of theflywheel with the frame. fluid-operable means connecting with the leverand frame and arranged to rock the lever, additional uid-operabletmeansfor acting upon the flywheel to move it to cause the lever to raise thehead, said means including a member having one portion pivoted to theframe co-axially With the pivotal point v of thelever with the frame.

5. In a pressing machine, a pressing head, fluid oper-able means foroperating the head to advance it to working position, latch means forpreventing` advancing movement ofthe head, separate control meansrespectively for controlling the fluid operable and latch means,arranged to be substantially simultaneously operable, each means by onehand.

6. A press having-a table4 having a buck thereon, a rockable presserhead cooperable l with the buck, a fly wheel rotatablethereon.

a connection for limiting fly Wheel rotation., fluid operable means forgiving the fly wheel initial momentum to advance the head, additionalfluid operable means for giving the fly wheel initial momentum toretract the head, latch 'means for preventing advancing movement of thehead, separate control means respectively for controlling the fluidoperable head advancing and latch means, arranged on the table adjacentthe buck to be substantially simultaneously operable each by means ofone hand.

ln witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand Feb. 7., 1928.

FREDERICK W. LEINDEMANN.

